NY unemployment claim shows overpaid and penalties boxes at $0 - will I end up owing money?

Don't worry too much those boxes always show up when u file, doesn't necessarily mean u owe anything

Really? That's a relief to hear. I was panicking thinking they were already planning to charge me for something.

Those fields appear on everyone's claim page as part of the standard UI system interface. The $0.00 amounts are just default values - they're placeholder fields in case there ever is an overpayment situation in the future. It doesn't mean you currently owe anything or that they're expecting you to have an overpayment. It's just how the system is designed.

Thank you for explaining! The way it was worded made me think they were just calculating how much I would owe. This makes me feel much better.

i had the same thing on mine last year and freaked out too lol. but yeah its just how their system looks for everyone. as long as u report your income correctly each week u should be fine

That's good to know! I'll make sure to report everything correctly.

In addition to what others are saying, those fields are actually visible for ALL claims, even when there are no issues at all. The NY unemployment system has these fields by default because they need somewhere to display this information IF it ever becomes relevant.\n\nHowever, I would suggest taking screenshots of your current claim status and all correspondence. The NYSDOL system can sometimes flag accounts for review based on various triggers (employment status changes, income verification, etc.), and having documentation of everything from the beginning can save you major headaches if questions arise later.

Taking screenshots is a really good idea. I'm going to do that right now for everything in my account. The last thing I want is problems down the road.

EVERYONE'S account shows those fields!!! The system is designed to track overpayments and penalties for people who actually have them. The fact they're at $0 is GOOD - it means you DON'T owe anything. They aren't

No, I haven't received any messages about issues with my claim. The system just has that note saying the amount is $0 until they figure my amount out, which made me think they were expecting me to owe something.

The \

that service is legit. i used it in january when my claim had issues and couldnt get thru on the phone for days. was talking to someone at nysdol like 25 mins after using it

Those fields show up for EVERYONE. I've had unemployment 3 different times in NY since 2025 started (construction work is unstable), and every single time those fields are there showing $0.00. It doesn't mean anything unless they actually change to show some other amount.\n\nThe wording is super confusing though, I agree. The whole system is designed to make you stressed out I swear!!

Thank you! I feel so much better knowing it's normal. You're right - the wording really is confusing and definitely made me stress out!

btw make sure ur certifying every week even while waiting for them to approve ur claim amount. some ppl dont and then they miss out on back payments

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely make sure to certify every week while I wait.

To clarify one more thing - the system actually displays \

Exactly right. The poor interface design creates confusion by putting these elements near each other. The NY system tends to take 2-3 weeks to finalize a new WBA calculation, sometimes longer if there are wage verification issues. But the $0 overpayment fields are completely unrelated to that process.

Thank you all so much for the help! I can finally relax a bit knowing those fields are normal and don't mean I'll automatically owe something. I'll keep certifying weekly and I took screenshots of everything just in case. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this!

I went through the exact same panic when I filed my claim a few months ago! Those overpayment and penalty fields showing $0 had me convinced I was already in trouble before I even got my first payment. But everyone here is absolutely right - it's just how the system is built. Think of it like having empty boxes labeled "parking tickets" and "late fees" on your dashboard even when you've never gotten a ticket. The boxes exist in case they're needed, but empty boxes don't mean you're getting a ticket! Keep doing what you're doing with the weekly certifications and you'll be fine.